Devorah Halberstam

Devorah Halberstam is an American political activist. Termed “a true fighter against terrorism,” by the FBI, Devorah has traveled a hard road from grieving mother to international counter-terrorist authority over the past 20 years.^[1] Her journey began on March 1st, 1994, when a Lebanese gunman murdered her 16-year old son Ari in a terrorist attack on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Grief and fury over her eldest son's murder transformed Devorah into an activist and crusader. Her activism and vigilance in the era leading up to the attacks of 9/11 has been deemed prescient by law enforcement. Today, she is a sought-after authority locally, nationally and around the world as a new threat of terror seizes hold of the planet. Named as one of the coveted Forward Fifty, by The Forward newspaper, Devorah is a voice for victims the world over. Despite being vulnerable to death threats, Devorah will not be dissuaded from pursuing her goal: to create a terror-free world.

After the FBI's initial classification of the shooting as an act of "road rage," Devorah led a one-woman battle to have her son's death reclassified as an act of terrorism. Six years later, the FBI finally recognized the attack as a terrorist act.^[2] From that moment on, Devorah has advised officials in our nation’s most prestigious agencies on counter-terrorism.

Halberstam was awarded with the FBI’s New York Division’s Director’s Community Leadership award in 2009.^[3] (She was honored with a similar award in Washington, DC in 2010).

Devorah pounded the halls of Congress, offices of elected officials and the New York court system, where she advocated reforms in our government. Tirelessly, she campaigned for changes in our judicial and immigrations systems, where she pursued deportation proceedings against the accomplices who flouted American immigration laws.

She brought the first lawsuit in the history of American jurisprudence against the gun manufacturer that supplied Ari's killer with the arsenal of weapons he used in the shooting.

Devorah was appointed by Governor George E. Pataki to serve on the first ever New York State Commission on Terrorism and then, together with him, she authored the first New York State laws to counter terrorism^[4] in 2001, which included the death penalty for terrorist crimes.^[5] To date, these laws have been used twice^[6][7][8] and terrorists have been convicted as a result of Penal Code 490.

The ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge has been renamed the Ari Halberstam Memorial Ramp by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The sign is visible in 12 locations and appears on the map of New York City.

Halberstam is the author of numerous papers and articles on terrorism^[9][10][11] and immigration^[12][13][14]. Devorah is a frequent speaker who has traveled around the country speaking to the civic community and on college campuses, educating the public about the threats of terrorism in New York, United States, and around the world. She currently instructs local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on terrorism- related issues in the United States and other governments.

Devorah is one of the founders of the Jewish Children’s Museum^[15] in Brooklyn, New York and presently serves as the Director of External Affairs. Dedicated in the memory of her son, Ari Halberstam, the museum is a 50,000 square-ft. landmark with hands-on workshops and exhibits on the history and culture of the Jewish people. Since its opening in 2005, there have been over 1.5 million visitors. The museum's mission is to promote cultural understanding and appreciation through educational exhibits and workshops. Halberstam's work in the museum serves as a platform for her work as an advocate of interfaith dialogue and diversity. The museum seeks to educate the youth, as they are the leaders of the next generation and our hope for the future.

Active on the local level, Devorah hosts important civic events at the museum and is a popular speaker on matters of ethnic diversity and a force for reconciliation.

Awards

Halberstam is the recipient of numerous awards including the FBI Community Leadership Award, Top Brooklyn Businesswomen Networking Award, Con Edison’s Brooklyn Women of Distinction Award, and was a nominee for the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. A frequent participant in panel discussions regarding terrorism and Antisemitism at universities, community centers and public forums. A trusted resource for journalists, -- who value her articulate and candid point of view -- she appears as a commentator and analyst both in print and broadcast media.

"Ari's Law"

Devorah’s struggle for justice resulted in her advocating in the state for the passing of "Ari's Law"^[16] as part of a comprehensive gun control bill, which prohibits interstate gun trafficking.

Ari's Law is also pending in Congress which would ban the sale of gun kits. At the same time, she helped craft a new law in Congress that has reduced the abuses found in the political asylum process.

References